Author Interview with Natalie Roberts @natalieroberts1 #Depression #SelfHelp #TuesdayBookBlog

I’m delighted to introduce you to Natalie Roberts, author of Write Through Depression. Natalie chats to me about writing her first book, being inspired by her Nan, and her obsession with Parker pens!

Natalie is a self-help author and healthcare copywriter. She lives in North Wales, UK and has four children. She is passionate about bringing awareness to mental health issues, having dealt with depression herself for 20 years. Writing has always been a form of therapy that works for her, and she enjoys introducing other people to the power of the pen.

Tell us a little about yourself. (How did you get started writing? What do you do when you’re not writing?)

I’m Natalie, a freelance writer and self-help author. I live in North Wales, and I have four children.

I started writing as a teenager. My Nan wrote short stories for women’s magazines and it really interested me. So, I gave writing a go and have been hooked ever since.

When I’m not writing, I like watching murder documentaries, reading and sleeping when my kids allow it!

Is this your first book? How many books have you written prior (if any?)

Write Through Depression was the first book I published. I have since written and published a second called Journal Through Depression, and I’ve also ghostwritten autobiographies and business ebooks.

What genre is it, and what is it about?

Write Through Depression is a non-fiction self-help workbook about the therapeutic benefits of writing for depression and how you can use writing as a tool to manage depression. It is full of writing prompts, personal experience and tasks to carry out.

What or who inspired you to write this book?

I’ve been dealing with depression for around 20 years now. Writing has always been a comfort to me and something I use to understand myself. Whether it be journaling or letter writing, it’s always helped me to make sense of my thoughts and take some form of control back.

What writing advice do you have for other aspiring authors?

Just keep going. It takes time. Writing a book is a lot of hard work and takes dedication, but it’s totally worth it when you hold your book in your hands.

Set a schedule and stick to it. I write in the evenings when my children are asleep. I aim for a word count, but if I don’t meet it, I just have to remember even a few words is more than I had yesterday. It’s all progress.

What do you enjoy most about writing and why?

It’s a form of therapy to me. It’s also proof I’m able to create. I used to think I wasn’t a creative person because I can’t draw or paint, but writing is totally a creative art.

List three interesting facts about yourself

I passed my driving test last year during the start of the pandemic, in a car I had never driven before and in a town I had never been to. COVID meant my instructor had to isolate so I couldn’t use her car, and my area of Wales wasn’t carrying out tests. I was a key worker at the time, so was a priority for testing.

I occasionally work shifts in a care home, looking after a young lady on a ventilator if the care home needs cover.

I have an obsession with Parker pens. I collect them and love fountain pens in particular.

What is your least favourite part of the publishing/writing process?

I’m an underwriter, so anything after the first draft can be a struggle. But I mostly enjoy all aspects of the writing and publishing process. I find editing quite fun.

What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?

It’s so helpful to all authors, especially self-published ones, if readers leave a review of their book. Even a quick one-liner can make a huge difference. If you have an Amazon account or Goodreads, it would be super helpful to me to leave reviews there. Also, mentioning my book on social media will help me reach readers I might never find myself.

What is your next project?

Currently, I’m ghostwriting an autobiography and working on other freelance writing projects for clients. I’m hoping to resume writing my next book about depression in the summer.

You can connect with Natalie here:

Book – h/getbook.at/Writethroughdep

Website – www.natalieroberts.net

FB – www.facebook.com/natalierobertswriter

Instagram: www.instagram.com/natalierobertswriter

Twitter: www.twitter.com/natalieroberts1

Book Blurb:

DO YOU WANT TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR DEPRESSION?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANNEL IT INTO SOMETHING CREATIVE?

WRITING MAYBE THE ANSWER FOR YOU.

Write Through Depression is for anyone who wants to release their thoughts unedited and without fear of embarrassment or rejection. You don’t have to be a master of spelling, grammar or punctuation to make use of this book. Discover how writing can be used as a therapeutic tool and how it can help you make sense of your thoughts and feelings and improve your mindset

Natalie also opens up about her struggle with depression and how writing helps her through the dark times:

Chapters include:

• Your story
• Social media isn’t your friend
• Start writing now
• Self-care
• Worksheets, trackers and much more.